Problem: Reword. The principles of behavior analysis provide a systematic framework for understanding how language is acquired and maintained. Operant conditioning, a core principle of behavior analysis, posits that behavior is influenced by its consequences: responses that are reinforced are more likely to occur in the future, while those that are not reinforced or are punished decrease in frequency (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2020). In the context of language acquisition, verbal behaviors-such as mands, tacts, echoics, and intraverbals-are shaped and maintained by the contingencies present in the environment, highlighting the centrality of reinforcement in developing functional communication (Sundberg & Michael, 2001). Skinner's (1957) analysis of verbal behavior elaborates on this concept by classifying language according to its function, rather than its form, and emphasizing that each verbal operant is controlled by specific antecedents and maintained by reinforcing consequences (Spera, Balawejder, & Cautilli, 2008). Reinforcement plays a critical role in strengthening verbal behavior. Positive reinforcement, such as social praise or access to a desired item, increases the likelihood of repeated verbal responses, whereas negative reinforcement involves the removal of aversive stimuli contingent upon the verbal behavior, which also strengthens communication (Michael, 1993). Need Assignment Help?